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Thomas Jefferson on George Washington’s Birthday

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

A great ball is to be given here [Philadelphia] on the 22d [of February], and in other great towns of the Union. This is, at least, very indelicate, and probably excites uneasy sensations in some. I see in it, however, this useful deduction, that the birthdays, which have been kept, have been, not those of the President [Washington], but of the General [Washington].
To James Madison, Feb. 1798, 839

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
Today, February 22, is George Washington’s birthday. He was born in 1732, 11 years before Thomas Jefferson.
Washington had been retired from the Presidency for almost a year when this letter was written and was held in high esteem. The upcoming birthday celebration was causing some division within the Federalist party. Another letter to Madison (840) after the event recorded, “The sincerely [President John] Adamites did not go. The Washingtonians went religiously … “
As a rule, Jefferson disliked celebrating the birthdays of public officials. He thought it smacked of the British system. He was willing to concede the value of this recognition because it was for Washington, the General of our war for independence, and not for Washington the President.
Also in that second excerpt (840), Jefferson noted that eventually, time would bring and end to such events.
Read about what Jefferson thought of celebrating his own birthday in this post from July 4, 2011.

Leave a comment Posted in Aging, Military / Militia, Politics

On Presidents Day: Thomas Jefferson on George Washington

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

His mind was great and powerful … slow in operation … but sure in conclusion … hearing all suggestions, he selected whatever was best … He was incapable of fear, meeting personal dangers with the calmest unconcern. Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed. His integrity was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known … He was, indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good, and a great man. … On the whole, his character was, in its mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in few points indifferent; and it may truly be said, that never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great …For his was the singular destiny and merit, of leading the armies of his country successfully through an arduous war for the establishment of its independence; of conducting its councils through the birth of a government, new in its forms and principles, until it had settled down into a quiet and orderly train; and of scrupulously obeying the laws through the whole of his career, civil and military, of which the history of the world furnishes no other example … I felt on his death with my countrymen, that verily a great man hath fallen this day in Israel.
Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Walter Jones, 1814, 9066

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
On this Presidents Day, Mr. Jefferson pays tribute to our first President.
Note the characteristics of leadership Jefferson attributed to Washington:
- A powerful mind, not quick but sure
- Open-minded, considering all views before making a decision
- Fearless
- Prudent (wise)
- Pure in integrity
- Unbending in justice
There were some weaknesses in Washington mentioned in this letter, but I chose to highlight the best qualities of the man. You can read a much longer portion of this letter here. The full text can be found in Saul Padover’s The Complete Jefferson, c. 1943, pages 924-926.

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Leave a comment Posted in Leadership styles, Personalities of others

Thomas Jefferson on too much government

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

I think, myself, that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious. I believe it might be much simplified to the relief of those who maintain it.
To William Ludlow, 1824, 1302

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
I confess: This excerpt is taken out of context.
Ludlow had written to Jefferson about “the progress of society,” and Jefferson is replying in general agreement. I fail to see how the sentiment above fits into that letter. Yet, this excerpt is an accurate description of what he considered an over-reaching, parasitic national government.
Jefferson actually decreased the scope of government when he became President in 1801. All internal taxes were eliminated, and the national debt from our war for independence was reduced in seven of Jefferson’s eight years in office. (In 1803, the debt increased to finance the purchase of Louisiana.) Obviously, subsequent Congresses and Presidents were not so restrained.

2 Comments Posted in Constitutional issues, Government's proper role, National Prosperity

For Valentine’s Day: Thomas Jefferson on chocolate

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America, which it has in Spain.
Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1785, 1243

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
Jefferson had been in France a year when he wrote this, long before he and Adams were estranged over their political differences. Jefferson saw a trend in Europe that he thought would carry over to America. The Spanish brought the Aztec culture of chocolate to Europe and excelled at its production.
This might be an area where Jefferson got it wrong. Americans didn’t replace tea and coffee with chocolate. They simply added that tasty treat to their diets and kept their beverages.
If it’s true that you can never have enough chocolate, does it follow that you can never know enough about chocolate? If so, Mr. Wiki will get you started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chocolate

Thomas Jefferson on an “official” church

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

No man shall be compelled to frequent, or support, any religious worship, place, or ministry, whatsoever; nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, or shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but … all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and … the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
Statute on Religious Freedom, 1779, 1257

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
Colonial Virginia’s law imposed a tax on its citizens to support the “official” church of the colony. That law continued once Virginia gained its independence. A majority of the other states also had official churches, and some required religious oaths.
Jefferson re-wrote the statute and submitted this draft to the Virginia Assembly in June 1779. It faced great opposition and wasn’t adopted until 1786, when Jefferson was serving as ambassador to France.
Jefferson regarded this statute as one of the three most significant accomplishments of his life and directed that his authorship be recorded on his tombstone.

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Thomas Jefferson on the honey-bee

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

The honey-bee is not a native of our continent. Marcgrove, indeed, mentions a species of the honey-bee in Brazil. But this has no sting, and is therefore different from the one we have, which resembles perfectly that of Europe. The Indians concur with us in the tradition that it was brought from Europe; but when, and by whom, we know not. The bees have generally extended themselves into the country, a little in advance of the white settlers. The Indians, therefore, call them the white man’s fly, and consider their approach as indicating the approach of the settlements of the whites.
Notes on Virginia, 1782, 794

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
Notes on Virginia was Jefferson’s compilation of the natural history (science) of his native state. This excerpt comes at the end of Query (Chapter) VI, “Productions Mineral, Vegetable and Animal.” Little escapes his attention, not even the honeybee.
It’s interesting to note that even as a young man, in his late 30s, Jefferson has a personal library extensive enough that he could research honeybees from Brazil and Europe.
A longer version of this quote plus more information on Jefferson’s interest in bees, wax and honey are found on Monticello’s web site.

Leave a comment Posted in Animals, Natural history (science)

Patrick Lee on Langston Hughes

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

Today’s post is different from all previous ones.
Two days ago, February 1, was the 110th anniversary of the birth of noted African-American writer Langston Hughes, in Joplin, MO. His extensive body of work included poems, short stories, plays and books. He was an active part of the “Harlem Renaissance” of the 1920s and 30s.
In my July 6, 2011 post, Jefferson wrote about Benjamin Banneker, a free black man and skilled mathematician and writer. Jefferson was impressed with his abilities and helped him gain employment in designing the new federal capital, now called Washington, D.C., but known then as Washington City.
Banneker represented what Jefferson hoped the black population could achieve when freed from “their degraded condition” of slavery. Langston Hughes stands, in part, on the shoulders of Benjamin Banneker.

If you’d like to know more about Hughes and read samples of his work:
A lengthy bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes –
Four poems:
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers”
“I, too, Sing America”
“The Weary Blues”
“Freedom’s Plow” – This poem is long but half-way through, you’ll find these words:

“A long time ago, but not too long ago, a man said:
ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL—
ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR
WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS—
AMONG THESE LIFE, LIBERTY
AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
His name was Jefferson. There were slaves then,
But in their hearts the slaves believed him, too,
And silently too for granted
That what he said was also meant for them.”

Hughes also wrote a series of stories about a fictional character, Jesse B. Semple, whose last name was rendered “Simple.” Wikipedia describes those stories as “the everyday black man in Harlem who offered musings on topical issues of the day.”
Simple Speaks His Mind, 1950, was the first collection of these stories. Simple’s Uncle Sam was the last in 1965.
In one story, Jesse said about himself, “My mama should have named me Job instead of Jesse B. Semple. I have been underfed, underpaid, undernourished, and everything but undertaken – yet I am still here. The only thing I am afraid of now – is that I will die before my time.”

Thomas Jefferson stands ready
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Leave a comment Posted in Culture, Personalities of others, Slavery, Uncategorized

Thomas Jefferson on sisterly advice

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

When your sister arrives [in France, from America] she will become a precious charge on your hands. The difference of your age and your common loss of a mother, will put that office on you. Teach her above all things to be good, because without that we can neither be valued by others nor set any value on ourselves. Teach her always to be true; no vice is so mean as the want of truth, and at the same time so useless. Teach her never to be angry; anger only serves to torment ourselves, to divert others, and alienate their esteem. And teach her industry, and application to useful pursuits. I will venture to assure you that if you inculcate this in her mind, you will make her a happy being herself, a most interesting friend to you, and precious to all the world.
To Martha Jefferson, early-to-mid 1787, 1244

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
When the widowed Jefferson sailed to France in 1784, he took his eldest daughter Martha with him. She was almost 12 and commonly called Patsy. He left two younger daughters, six year-old Maria (called Polly or Mary) and two-year-old Lucy Elizabeth in America, in the care of his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Eppes.
Just five months after his arrival, he learned that whooping cough had claimed Lucy and one of her Eppes cousins. He began making plans to bring Maria to Paris, a task that took over two years to accomplish.
Jefferson frequently placed a weighty burden of responsibility on his young daughters. Here, he wrote 14 year-old Patsy that she would be the mother figure for her eight-year-old sister. Both would live together in the convent Patsy attended. He instructed Patsy to teach Polly:
- To be good
- To be true
- Never to be angry
- To be industrious
- To be useful
These are admirable qualities but probably too much for a young teenager to teach a much younger sibling (and near stranger).
An unanticipated event arose from Polly’s journey across the Atlantic, one that would dog Jefferson the rest of his life. He asked his sister-in-law to send an older slave woman to accompany and care for his young daughter on her trip. Why Elizabeth Eppes made the choice she did is unknown. Polly Jefferson’s traveling companion was not a mature woman but a girl in her early-teens, Sally Hemings.

Learn what advice Thomas Jefferson might share with your audience.
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Leave a comment Posted in Family matters, Morality, Sally Hemings

Thomas Jefferson on the metric system

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

Can you multiply and divide easily by 10?
The divisions into dimes, cents and mills is now so well understood that it would be easy of introduction into the kindred branches of weights and measures … I find every one comprehends a distance readily, when stated to him in miles and cents; so he would in feet and cents, pounds and cents, &c.
Autobiography, 1821, 2104

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
As early as 1784, Jefferson was recommending a decimal based system for both money and measurements. (Wikipedia says the metric system was introduced in France in 1799.)
In President Washington’s first term, 1789-1793, he asked his cabinet members for their thoughts on the subject. Treasury Secretary Hamilton recommended maintaining the English system of coinage and measurement. State Secretary Jefferson proposed a decimal system for each. The President compromised, taking Hamilton’s position on measurement (inches, feet, yards, etc.) and Jefferson’s for money (dollars, dimes, cents).
When this was written, the money system had been in effect for 30 years and was well accepted. Jefferson proposed expanding the decimal system to weights and measures.

Thomas Jefferson on paying cash

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Thomas Jefferson

Credit, debit or … cash?
The maxim of buying nothing but what we have money in our pockets to pay for lays, of all others, the broadest foundation for happiness.
To Mr. Skipwith, 1787, 1994

Patrick Lee’s Explanation
Sometime during Jefferson’s five years as ambassador to France, he began borrowing money to pay off loans he’d taken out previously. It was a pattern that would plague him all his life.
Paying cash yielded two benefits.
- It taught one to be content and live within one’s means.
- It allowed one to live without worry of losing possessions through default.
Jefferson did love his creature comforts, and he was generous with family and friends. Those traits, along with larger issues far beyond his control, contributed to a debt at the end of his life that some have estimated at $100,000 in 1826 money, several millions in 2012 dollars.Jefferson would apply this principle religiously to government spending. He could not apply it to himself. He wrote similarly to a young boy in 1825, “Never spend your money before you have it.” By that time, he knew his beloved Monticello and all his estate would be liquidated to pay that debt.

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Leave a comment Posted in Debt, National Prosperity